The long-term MLS deals recently signed by U.S. internationals Clint Dempsey, Omar Gonzalez, Clarence
Goodson and Landon Donovan are being cited as proof of the league’s true emergence on the world stage.

These deals are noteworthy, yes, but they
don’t necessarily indicate anything of the sort. Many MLS teams have paid high prices for players before, and while each of the above signings make sense for the players and their clubs, how
they ultimately affect the national team won’t be known for some time.

MLS hasn’t emerged, at least not yet, in one critical sense. While it has grown and matured financially,
whether or not it has sufficiently advanced competitively to supply a significant pool of international-caliber players won’t be known until the 2014 World Cup has been played.

U.S.
coach Jurgen Klinsmann was far from flowery when asked his opinion of Dempsey’s move to the Sounders, which came a year after he stepped up in class by leaving modest Fulham for
Tottenham Hotspur.

While every U.S. World Cup team assembled since the league began operations in 1996 has included its share of MLS mainstays, the 2014 squad will likely contain the most
impact players based domestically since the 1998 team that crashed out of the first round with three losses. Eric Wynalda, Tab Ramos, Brian McBride, Jeff Agoos, Marcelo Balboa, Joe-Max Moore,
Frankie Hejduk, Eddie Pope, et al, didn’t much aid the cause of MLS.

The decisions of Coach Steve Sampson regarding tactics and personnel took much of the
blame for that poor, three-loss performance, and so obviously outclassed players such as Mike Burns and Brian Maisonneuve and a few others were spared much criticism.
With a smaller allotment of MLS players – albeit a good group that included Donovan, Pope, McBride, Agoos, Hejduk and Clint Mathis -- the 2002 team reached the quarterfinals. It
should also be said that in the past two World Cups, MLS players not only started regularly but also came off the bench and performed well, a la Jimmy Conrad in 2006, and
Jonathan Bornstein in 2010.

Yet despite fierce competition for spots from players based in Europe and Mexico, the MLS contingent figures to be increasingly important at
Brazil 2014. Fortunately, Klinsmann -- unlike his predecessors -- doesn’t need to artificially roil the competitive dynamics within the squad. If the MLS players aren't better than their foreign
counterparts, they must at least be equal or nearly so. If the players believe that selection decisions are based solely on performance, and not colored by the league in which they play, there won't
be divisions or schisms between disparate groups.

If the form of Omar Gonzalez or Matt Besler slips, there will be Goodson and Geoff
Cameron and maybe John Brooks ready to step in. During the Gold Cup, Klinsmann didn’t need to risk Herculez Gomez, hobbled by an ouchy hamstring, with
Chris Wondolowski and Eddie Johnson ready to step in. And despite scoring five goals in the Gold Cup, Wondo looks like a longshot for 2014. Terrence
Boyd is coming off his best pro season at Rapid Vienna and Jozy Altidore is back in the English Premier League. Projecting off his U.S. debut against Bosnia-Herzegovina,
Aron Johannsson can be a serious candidate for Brazil. That is stiff competition for the MLS hopefuls, which is the way it should be.

Jermaine Jones may
look like a lock at central mid, yet the case can also be made that only recently did Mix Diskerud and Liga MX product Joe Corona join Kyle Beckerman
and Jose Torres among the options. A healthy Stuart Holden would further crowd the midfield and allow Klinsmann, perhaps, to pick a different partner paired with the
acumen, range and drive of Michael Bradley. If not, at least Jones faces a battle to keep his spot, which is the healthiest environment for him and the squad.

Klinsmann’s preference for Jones may not stem from a fascination with European-based players, as many fans and pundits have theorized, but rather a cold-eyed evaluation of who is best for the
job. He has juggled personnel and formations sufficiently to take long looks at more than 60 players in a variety of conditions and situations, and by encouraging -- and in some cases arranging --
loan spells during the MLS offseason has rated the league as subpar. A cryptic reaction to Dempsey’s MLS move clearly indicates his concerns about the league persist.

Beckerman has done
a great job of withstanding a wave of changes in the squad, and if anything, is looking more secure than ever after a run of good games in the Gold Cup. Playing in MLS hasn’t seemed to harm his
World Cup prospects but of course he’s not under the pressure to create chances and produce goals as are many of his MLS brethren.

Yet it’s hard to imagine any challenger
dislodging Dempsey, Donovan, Eddie Johnson, and Graham Zusi from the regular rotation (if not necessarily the starting lineup). MLS players dominate the centerback corps, and the right-back slot is so
wide-open the fairytale saga that is Brad Evans could yet include a Brazilian chapter.

Opening up the checkbook to sign top American players is a bellwether of stability
and ambition for certain MLS teams. But the league’s competitive reputation hinges on how the USA players perform in Brazil, not how much MLS pays those who wear its jerseys.

Just because Seattle splashed some cash on Dempsey, be reminded: Most marketable players earn money from endorsements more than salary. Dempsey's agents knew this and returning to the USA will get him those bucks. In England he was coming off the bench getting his minutes he was not considered a "star" of the EPL by any means, but a talented American. So coming to MLS is a few pegs down in competition but what does he care. Old players especially from England had interest in MLS for that same reason. The training is easier and a chance to work/live in America after the player boots are hung-up. MLS is a marketing monger and the closest thing to communism we have in America. Who runs America Soccer the USSF or MLS...so USSF looks like the tail is wagging the dog!

David Sirias

commented on: August 28, 2013 at 6:34 p.m.

You asked he question but didn't even attempt at answering it. C'mon. All you said was MLSers are in competition with their Euro brethren , duh. We know that. I would opine that the newer squad member are not as ready as they could be. Both Besler and Omar would be better ready for Brazil if they played , real playing time, in slightly stronger leagues that are embedded with better technique and tactics. France , D2 Germany would be nice for them Ditto with Zusi . One year in Holland would make Zusi much better with his off the ball movement which is somewhat retarded by lack of movement from players like Feilhaber etc on SKC Even Nick Rimando would be better served some where else where lots more shots are on target . That's pretty much it........ Dempsey and Donovan are seasoned vets on the national stage. Playing in Europe all year will not help them perform better. If anything MLS prolongs their shelf life. (Thanks for your contributions thus far EJ and Brad E. ) but no one else in MLS besides the six above are even likely to make the final WC roster.